Transfer device



Dec- 1, 195 s. ALIMANESTIANO 2,915,204

TRANSFER DEVICE Filed Dec. 24, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 SERBANALIMANESTIANO BY 6H,, s W

ATTORNEY c- 1, 195 s. ALIMANESTIANO 2,915,204

TRANSFER DEVICE Filed Dec. 24, 1956 s sheets-sheet z LL J L ak FIG.2

, INVENTOR sci-(BAN ALIMANESTIANO ATTORNEY Dec. 1, 1959 s. ALIMANESTIANO2,915,204

TRANSFER DEVICE Filed Dec. 24, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGS 3 7 fi n} A 547 a 9 m 52 W A 54 j V% A; 104E, Zfiv-I Z7 4 Y\ mfi wafi FIG.6

INVENTOR SERBAN ALIMANESTIANO BY My 51 44/ 1 ATTORNEY TRANSFER DEVICESerban Alimanestiano, Upper Nyack, N.Y., assignor to Speed-Park, Inc., acorporation of New York Application December 24, 1956, Serial No.630,219 15 Claims. (Cl. 21416.4)

'device movable in a given path or paths and operative to efiect thetransfer of objects on either side of such paths to fixed supports, suchdevice being compact and cooperative with said fixed supports in animproved manner.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described, which comprises a minimum number of parts andsimple operating mechanism therefor.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved device of thecharacter described, which includes a pair of independently operabletransfer members movable in opposite directions whereby an object may beselectively transferred to positions on either side of the device.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a transfer deviceof the character described which may be mounted on an elevator movablein a shaftway between vertically spaced shelves on either side thereof,the

transfer device including transfer members movable into projectedlateral position in operative relation to said shelves and of suchconstruction as to substantially eliminate the need for space betweenshelves to accommodate such transfer members in their projectedpositions.

Other objects of this invention'will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointedout.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a transfer device embodying the invention, inschematic form, in relation to load receiving zones located on oppositesides thereof;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of said transfer device;

Fig. 3 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a detailed portion thereof;

Fig. 6 is a side view of another form of the transfer device, inassociation with an elevator moving between vertically spaced shelves oneither side thereof; the shelves including load receiving members.

The transfer device of the instant invention comprises a base movable inhorizontal or vertical paths, with a pair of transfer members mountedthereon for relative movement. The transfer members take the form ofcomb-like structures with the fingers of one member aligned with thespaces between the fingers of the other member; means being provided foreffecting relative vertical displacement of the members; means beingfurther provided for moving each of the transfer members in horizontalplanes and in opposite directions to project the free ends of thefingers thereof respectively beyond opposite sides of the base and toretractthe same from their projected positions.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1, 10 designates oneform of the transfer device embodying the invention, which is mountedon' a ba'se'll. Base 11 United States Patent 0 may move in a horizontalpath 12 over rails 13, with load receiving zones 14 located on oppositesides of path 12. Zones 14 may comprise suitable flat supporting means15 such as a floor structure or the like, with spaced, parallel,elongated members A disposed on fioor 15 and extending transversely ofpath 12. The spaces between members A are open at the outer ends thereofand from the top thereof.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the base or platform 11 may be rectangularin shape, with side edges 16, 17, and ends 18, 19. Wheels 20 are mountedon the underside or base 11 for guiding the movement of device 10 overrails 13.

On base 11 there is provided a pair of transfer members generallyindicated at 21, 22, which are arranged for relative movement. Transfermember 21 comprises a set of spaced, parallel, transversely extendingfingers 23 which may be formed of structural beams of suitable sectionand weight; fingers 23 being interconnected only at one end thereof by alongitudinally extending member 24. Similarly, transfer member 22comprises a set of fingers 23a interconnected at one end by a member 24aextending parallel to member 24.

In one position of transfer members 21, 22, shown in Fig. 2, the fingers23 of the one member may be in interdigitated relation to the fingers23a of the other member, with all fingers located in a common horizontalplane, the member 24 being located on the right side of base 11 adjacentedge 17 thereof, and member 24a being located on the left side of saidbase adjacent edge 16 thereof.

Means is provided on base 11 for supporting the transfer members 21, 22at the opposite ends thereof and independently of each other, whileallowing for-vertical and horizontal movement of each of the saidtransfer members independently of each other.

Accordingly, a pair of transversely disposed, parallel structural beams25, 26 are respectively disposed at the opposite ends of base 11adjacent ends 18, 19 thereof, for association with transfer member 21.Hydraulic jacks 27 are mounted on base 11 for raising beams 25, 26relative thereto, said jacks being arranged for synchronized operation,by suitable hydraulic means, not shown. A second set of beams 25a, 26a,similar to beams 25, 26, is also located on base 11, being disposedinwardly of beams 25, 26, for association with transfer member 22 andbeing raised and lowered by hydraulic jacks 27a.

Transfer member 21 is operatively connected to beams 25, 26 by a secondset of beams 28, 29 respectively disposed adjacent and inwardly of beams25, 26. Beach 28, 29 are of I section and are movably related to beams25, 26 by means of rollers 30 mounted on the inner sides of said lastmentioned beams in longitudinally spaced arrangement and received in theouter channels of beams 28, 29. Longitudinally extending tie rod 31interconnects beams 28, 29, being secured to the top flanges thereof andlocated adjacent side edge 17 of base 11.

Member 24 of transfer member 21 is extended at the opposite ends thereofbeyond the outermost fingers 23, as at 32, with short finger portions 33extending trans versely from the ends of member portion 32, said fingerportions being located adjacent the inner sides of beams 23, 29, withrollers 34 mounted on the outer sides of finger portions 33 andreceivable in the inner channels of beams 28, 29. In this manner,transfer member 21 is movably supported at the opposite ends thereof onbeams 28,29, which in turn, are movably supported on beams 25, 26.

Transfer member 22 is similarly supported for suitable movement on beams25a, 26a bybeams 28a, 29a which are interconnected by tie rod 31a;except that rollers 34 aredirectly mounted on the end fingers 23a forrecepto similar movement of transfer member 21.

tion in the inner channels of beams 28a, 29a. The extension 32 of member24 of transfer member 21 provides spaces at the opposite ends of saidtransfer member for receiving the end portions of beams 25a, 28a; 26a,

29a, to allow for compact relation of the transfer members 21, 22 intheir normally retracted positions on base 11, the fingers 23, 23a ofsaid transfer members extending substantially the full width of base 11.

Means is provided for imparting suitable movement to transfer member 21relative to beams 25, 26 so as to project fingers 23 thereof, beyondside edge 16 of base 11. To this end, a motor 35 is mounted on alongitudinally extending member 36 suspended at the oppoite ends thereofbeneath beams 25, 26 by end drop brackets 37. The shaft of motor 35 hasa sprocket wheel 38 fixed thereto and connected to a sprocket wheel 39fixed to a stub shaft 40 journalled in bracket 37, by a chain 41. Apinion gear 42 fixed to shaft 40 meshes with a rack 43 fixed to theunderside of the bottom flange of beam 28. Similarly, a rack on beam 25is in mesh with a second gear 42 rotated by the shaft of motor 35through the sprocket wheel and chain arrangement previously described.Thus upon energization of motor 35, pinion gears 42 will be effectivethrough racks 43 to impart forward movement to beams 28, 29.

The forward movement of beams 28, 29 is translated To this end, sprocketwheels 44 are rotatably mounted on the opposite ends of the top flangeof beams 23, 29, with an endless sprocket chain 45 engaging said wheels44. An anchor member 46 is fixed to the upper surface of beams 25, 26adjacent one end thereof, said anchor members being attached to outerrun portions of chains 45. Similarly, an anchor member 47 is fixed tothe upper surface of finger portions 33 of transfer member 21, saidanchor members being attached to an inner run portion of chains 45, theanchor members 46, 47 being longitudinally displaced, with the transfermember 21 in its normal position as shown in Fig. 2.

Transfer member 22 is provided with similar means for effecting forwardmovement thereto, including a motor 35a; motor support 36a; dropbrackets 37a; sprocket wheels 38a, 39a; stub shaft 40a; sprocket chains41a; pinion gear 42:: and racks 43a. Also, a sprocket wheel and chain,together with anchor means, on beams 28a, 29a, as previously describedin connection with. beams 28, 29, provides for suitable movement oftransfer member 22 in a direction opposite to that of transfer member21.

It will be apparent, that upon operation of motor 35, and assuming thattransfer members 21, 22 have been vertically displaced by suitableoperation of jacks 27 or 27a, beams 28, 29 will be advanced toward edge16 of base 11 through action of racks 43 and gears 42. As chains 45 areanchored at a point on their outer runs by members 46, the forwardmovement of beams 28, 29 will cause chain portions to move aboutsprocket wheels 44 on said beams, thereby causing slidable movement ofthe transfer member 21 relative to beams 28, 29, through the connectionof members 47 on said transfer member, to the inner runs of chains 45.Accordingly, transfer fingers 23 on member 21 will be projected beyondthe base edge 16.

If jacks 27, or. 27a, are operated so as to leave transfer member 22uppermost, operation of motor 35a will cause movement of said transfermember, as above described but in the opposite direction, to projectfingers 23a thereof beyond base edge 17.

In operating device 10, objects may be transferred to load receivingzones on either side of path 12. Such object, not shown, is initiallydeposited on the interdigitated fingers 23, 23a of transfer members 21,22 in their position as shown in Fig. 2, the upper surfaces of saidfingers being substantially coplanar. The base 11 is then moved overrails 13 to a position aligned with the selected loading zone 14 andsuitably locked in said position to align the fingers 23 with spaces 48between load receiving members A on the left side of path 12, or toalign fingers 23a with spaces 43a between the members A on the rightside of path 12.

At this time, jacks 27 or 27a are operated to effect verticaldisplacement of transfer members 21, 22. If the object carried bytransfer device 10 is to be deposited on the left hand side of path 12,transfer member 21 must be in the uppermost position. This can beattained by lowering transfer member 22 or raising transfer member 21 inrelation to the original coplanar level of said transfer members. Fortransferring the object to the right of path 12, transfer member 22 mustbe in the uppermost position, through appropriate operation of jacks 27or 27a, as indicated.

Assuming that the required transfer member 21, or 22 .has been left inthe uppermost position, forward move ment is imparted thereto, byoperation of motor 35 or 35a, to thereby move fingers 23 or 23a intointerdigitating relation with load receiving members A, in spaces 48 or48a thereof. Preferably, the selected transfer member 21 or 22 is at alevel which brings the fingers thereof in relation to members A whereinthe upper surfaces of the former are somewhat above the upper surfacesof the latter. The jacks 27 or 27a may then be operated to lower theprojected transfer member whereby the object carried by the fingersthereof is transferred to load receiving member A, and the fingersdepressed below the level of the upper surfaces of said members A, toallow retraction of the transfer member upon reversal of motor 35 or35a.

It is understood that one of the transfer members 21, 22 may be held ina fixed horizontal plane, the other transfer member being movedvertically to horizontal positions above or below the first mentionedtransfer member, in accordance with the desired left or right handforward movement of said transfer members.

The transfer device of the instant invention is particularly useful inautomobile parking garages, inasmuch as the compactness of said deviceand its operating parts allows the overall volume of the garage to bereduced to a minimum with a substantial saving in building costs.

Thus, as shown in Fig. 6, the transfer device 10 may be carried on anelevator 50, which is hoisted and lowered by conventional means, notshown, the elevator moving in a shaftway 51 between vertically spacedshelves 52, 53 respectively located on either side of said shaftway.Each of the shelves 52, 53 comprises spaced, parallel load receivingmembers A supported on the underside thereof by longitudinally extendinggirders 54 which form a part of the structure of the parking garageindicated at P. The members A have their free outer ends extending toshaftway 51. It will be apparent that the spaces between said members Aare fully accessible from the top and the outer ends thereof; theunderside of said members being inaccessible because of supportinggirders 54.

The transfer members 21, 22 of device 10 are mounted on elevator 50, andpreferably, one of said members is fixed against vertical movement as bylocking its jacks in a given position, or by other suitable means. Thusthe one transfer member has no vertical movement relative to elevator 50while the other transfer member may be moved to positions above or belowthe vertically fixed transfer member. However, both transfer membershave horizontal movement in opposite directions, as previouslydescribed.

In one preferred mode of operation, the vertically fixed transfer membermay be used to pick up the load such as car C, at the ground level ofgarage P where car C may be driven on a load receiving zone made up ofload receiving members A. The elevator 50 is manipulated by suitablecontrol means, not shown, to bring the fingers of the vertically fixedtransfer member in align- .ment with the spaces between members A andsaid fingers may be laterally projected to engage the load and uponretraction thereof, to bring the load into the elevator. Under thesecircumstances, the vertically movable transfer member is depressed to aposition below the vertically fixed transfer member.

The elevator 50 is then raised in shaftway 51 to the proper level, andassuming that transfer member 21, as shown in Fig. 6, is verticallyfixed and is carrying car C, the elevator is manipulated to bring thefingers of member 21 slightly above the load receiving members A ofshelf 52, as said fingers are projected laterally to the left. Theelevator 50 is then lowered slightly to effect the transfer of car C tothe shelf 52 and the fingers are then retracted.

However, if the car C is to be transferred to a shelf 53 on the right,transfer member 22 is raised during the upward movement of the elevator50, to pick up the car C from transfer member 21. The elevator 50 isagain manipulated to bring the fingers of transfer member 22 into properaligned relation with the load receiving members A of shelf 53 and thefingers are projected laterally to the right, in a manner similar tothat previously described.

If desired, the manipulation of elevator 50 to bring transfer member 22into proper alignment with the load receiving members A of a selectedshelf 53'may be replaced by appropriate operation of jacks 27aassociated with transfer member 22.

It will be apparent that with the instant transfer device, the verticalspacing between successive shelves 52, 53 within garage P may be kept ata minimum, since the transfer members 21, 22 operate within the spaceabove supporting girders 54. Furthermore, the load receiving members Aforming shelves 52, 53, do not have to be cantilevered as in knownautomobile parking arrangements, nor does extra vertical spacing betweensuccessive shelves, have to be provided to accommodate the projectedtransferring means of such arrangements.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided an improved transferdevice and combinations thereof with structural load receiving means, inwhich the several objects of the invention are attained, and which iswell adapted to the conditions of practical use thereof.

As various changes might be made in the embodiments of the inventionherein shown, without departing from the spirit thereof, it isunderstood that all matter shown or described herein shall be deemedillustrative and not by way of limitation, except as set forth in theappended claims.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent:

1. A transfer device comprising a base, a pair of transfer membersmounted for relative movement on said base, each member comprising a setof transversely extending, spaced, parallel fingers and a longitudinallyextending member interconnecting said fingers at one end thereof leavingthe other end of said fingers open, said longitudinally extendingmembers being respectively disposed on opposite sides of said base andthe fingers of each transfer member being aligned with the spacesbetween the fingers of the other transfer member, means for raising andlowering at least one of said transfer members to locate said transfermembers in vertically displaced horizontal planes allowing independentmovement of said transfer members in their respective horizontal'planes, and means for selectively moving said transfer members in saidhorizontal planes to project the open ends of the sets of fingersthereof respectively beyond the opposite sides of said base.

2. A transfer device as in claim 1 wherein each transfer member isprovided with means for moving that member horizontally and wherein eachtransfer member provided with raising and lowering means has itshorizontal moving means associated with that raising and lowering meansto be raised and lowered therewith.

3. A transfer device as in claim 1 'wherein said raising and loweringmeans comprise jacks operatively associated with each of said transfermembers for which said raising and lowering means is provided.

4. A transfer device as in claim 1 wherein for each transfer memberthere are provided a pair of transversely extending beams, one at eachend of that transfer member, wherein said raising and lowering means foreach transfer member provided therewith comprise said transverselyextending beams for that transfer member, and wherein said moving meanscomprise for each transfer member a second pair of transverselyextending beams, one at each end of that transfer member and disposedrespectively between one of said first mentioned pair of beams and theadjacent end of the transfer member associated therewith, means mountingthat transfer member at its ends on said second mentioned beams fortransverse horizontal movement with respect thereto, means for effectingsaid transverse horizontal movement of said second mentioned beams, andmeans connected to that transfer member and said second mentioned beamsfor causing in response to said movement of said second mentioned beamsrelative movement of the transfer member with respect to said secondmentioned beams and in forwardly projected relation thereto. 5. Atransfer device comprising a base, a pair of transfer members mountedfor relative movement on said base, each transfer member comprising aset of transversely extending, spaced, parallel fingers and a longitudinally extending member interconnecting said fingers at one endthereof, said transfer members being arranged in one position thereofwith the open ends of their respective sets of fingers in interdigitatedrelation to form a horizontal supporting surface, means for verticallydisplacing said transfer members from said one position thereof torelative positions permitting horizontal movement of said transfermembers, and means for moving the uppermost of said displaced transfermembers horizontally to one side of said base with the set of fingersthereof projecting beyond said one side of the base.

6. A transfer device comprising a base, a pair of transfer membersmounted for relative movement on said base, each of said transfermembers comprising a set of trans versely extending spaced, parallelfingers and an elongated longitudinally extending member interconnectingsaid fingers at one end thereof, said transfer members being arrangedwith the elongated members thereof respectively located adjacentopposite sides of said base and with the fingers of eachtransfer memberaligned with the spaces between the fingers of the other transfermember, means for vertically displacing one of said transfer members toa position relative to the other member to allow projected and retractedhorizontal movement of said one transfer member, said means comprising apair of transversely extending beams respectively located at oppositeends of that transfer member and means on said base for raising andlowering said beams, a second pair of transversely extending beamsrespectively located inwardly of saidfirst mentioned beams and adjacentopposite ends of that transfer member, means for movably supporting eachof said second pair of beams on the adjacent first mentioned beam,meansfor movably supporting opposite end portions of that transfermember on the adjacent second mentioned beams, means for moving saidsecond men tioned beams to project one end of each in the direction ofthe open ends of the fingers associated with that trans fer memberbeyond the corresponding ends of the adjacent first mentioned beams, andmeans on said second mentioned beams operatively connected to adjacentportions of that transfer member to impart movement to that transfermember relative to said second mentioned beams to project the open endsof the fingers thereof beyond the said one end of each of the secondmentione beams. 7. In combination, a pair of opposed, spaced load-retheinterconnected ends thereof respectively located '7 ceivingishelves,each shelf comprising a set of spaced, parallel, elongated membersextending perpendicular to and opening on said space between shelves,transfer means movable in said space between shelves and com prising abase and a pair of transfer members mounted for opposite relativemovement on said base, each transfer member having a set of spaced,parallel fingers parallel with said shelf members and meansinterconnecting said fingers at one side of said base with the other endof said fingers extending toward the members of said shelf adjacent tothe other side of said base, said finger interconnecting means beingdisposed on opposite sides of said base, means for vertically displacingsaid transfer members from a normally coplanar relation of said transfermembers, means for horizontally moving the uppermost transfer member toproject the fingers thereof into aligned relation with the spacesbetween the members of the shelf adjacent the open ends of said fingers,said vertically displacing means being operative to move the up permosttransfer member from a position wherein the fingers thereof have theirupper surfaces somewhat above the upper surfaces of the members of said.last mentioned shelf, to a position wherein said fingers have theirupper surfaces somewhat below the upper surfaces of the members of saidlast mentioned shelf.

8. In combination, an elevator movable in a vertical shaftway, a set ofvertically spaced shelves on each side of said shaftway, each shelfcomprising a set of spaced, parallel load receiving members extendingtoward and opening on said shaftway, and means for supporting said loadreceiving members leaving the spaces therebetween open from above and atthe inner ends thereof, and transfer means on said elevator comprising apair of transfer members arranged for relative movement, each transfermember comprising a set of spaced, parallel fingers'aligned with thespaces between the fingers of the other transfer member, each set offingers being interconnected only at one end thereof, said transfermembers being arranged with the interconnected portions thereof disposedrespectively on opposite sides of said elevator and with the fingersthereof aligned with spaces between said load receiving members of theshelves on the side of the shaftway adjacent the open ends of saidfingers, meansfor vertically displacing one of said transfer membersrelative to the other member, and means for moving uppermost transfermember in horizontal planes and in opposite directions across theshaftway, whereby with said elevator moved to a position in saidshaftway to bring one of said transfer members opposite a shelf on theside of the shaftway adjacent the open ends of the fingers of thattransfer member and with that transfer member uppermost and the uppersurface of the fingers thereof somewhat above the load receiving membersof that shelf, the fingers of that transfer member may be horizontallyprojected into the spaces between said last mentioned load receivingmembers upon horizontal movement of that transfer member toward thatshelf.

9. The combination as in claim 8 wherein the horizontal moving means foreach transfer member provided with vertical displacing means, is mountedon that vertical displacing means.

10. The combination as in claim 8 wherein means are provided forsupporting each of said transfer members, wherein the verticallydisplacing means for each transfer member provided therewith acts onsaid supporting means for that transfer member, and wherein thehorizontal moving means for each transfer member includes 'means movableon the supporting means for that transfer member.

11. A transfer device comprising a base, a pair of transfer membersmounted for relative movement on said base, each member comprising a setof transversely extending, spaced, parallel fingers interconnected atone end only thereof, said transfer members being arranged with adjacentopposite sides of said base and with the fingers of each transfer memberaligned with the spaces between the fingers of the other transfermember, means for raising and lowering one of said members relative tothe other member comprising a pair of beams respectively locatedadjacent opposite ends of said one member and means on said base forraising and lowering each of said beams, a second pair of beamsrespectively located between said first mentioned beams and the adjacentend portions of said one member, means movably supporting the endportions of said one member on said second pair of beams, means movablysupporting each of said second pair of beams on the adjacent firstmentioned beam, motor means mounted on said first mentioned beams to beraised and lowered therewith, gear means operatively connecting saidmotor means and each of said second mentioned beams for moving saidsecond mentioned beams in horizontal planes, and means on each of saidsecond mentioned beams operatively connected to adjacent end portions ofsaid one transfer member for causing relative movement of said onetransfer member with respect to said second mentioned beams in responseto movement of said second mentioned beams.

12. A transfer device as in claim 11 wherein each of said transfermembers includes a longitudinally extending member for interconnectingthe set of fingers thereof at one end thereof, said longitudinallyextending members respectively being located at opposite sides of saidbase, the longitudinally extending member of one transfer memberprojecting at the opposite ends thereof beyond the outermost fingersthereof, and short finger portions extending transversely from theprojected end portions of said longitudinally extending member, whereinsaid means movably supporting the end portions of said one transfermember on said second pair of beams supports said short finger portionson said second mentioned beams and wherein the other transfer member isalso provided with such first and second mentioned beams and endportions of such first and second mentioned beams are received in thespaces between the short finger portions and the outermost fingers ofsaid one transfer member.

13. In combination, an elevator movable in a vertical shaftway, transfermeans on said elevator comprising a pair of transfer members arrangedfor relative movement, each transfer member comprising a set of spaced,parallel fingers interconnected only at one end thereof, the fingers ofone transfer member being aligned with the spaces between the fingers ofthe other transfer member, the open ends of the fingers of one transfermember extending toward the connected ends of the fingers of the othertransfer member, means for fixing the vertical position of one transfermember with respect to the elevator, means for vertically displacing theother transfer member with respect to said one transfer member, andmeans for independently moving said transfer members horizontally and inopposite directions to project and retract the fingers thereof withrespect to the sides of said elevator.

14. The combination as in claim 13 wherein said vertically displacingmeans is operable to selectively move the fingers of said other transfermember to positions above and below the fingers of said one transfermember.

15. In combination, a pair of opposed load receiving zones, each zonecomprising a set of parallel elongated load receiving members and meansfor supporting said members on the underside thereof leaving the spacesbetween saidmembers freely accessible only from the top and outer endsthereof, transfer means comprising a base and a pair of transfer membersmounted for horizontal and relative vertical movement on said base, eachtransfor member comprising a set of parallel fingers interconnected atone end thereof and open at the other end thereof, said transfer membersin one position thereof relative to said base having their respectivefingers in interdigitated coplanar relation leaving their interconnectedportions respectively located on opposite sides of said base, means forvertically displacing said transfer members relative to each other tovertically spaced positions leaving the uppermost transfer member clearof the lowermost transfer member, means for moving one of 5 saidtransfer members while in its uppermost position horizontally in thedirection of the open ends of the fingers thereof to one side of saidbase to interdigitate said fingers with the load receiving members ofthe zone on said one side of the base, and means for moving the 10References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSBessing et al Mar. 14, 1893 Scott Nov. 3, 1903 Bratley July 20, 1943Alimanestiano Aug. 4, 1953 Str ahm et al. June 26, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTSGermany Nov. 27, 1942 Austria Apr. 10, 1952

